Dungeon Fighter Live: Fall of Hendon Myre review

In an attempt to recreate that success on the console front, Nexon has collaborated with Microsoft on Dungeon Fighter Live: Fall of Hendon Myre, a game that brings the experience of the series, in condensed form, to Xbox Live.  It’s a novel idea, and at first, it really seems like it’s getting somewhere.  However, over the long term, the game just isn’t the same, as certain limitations keep it from gaining the same unique experiences that PC players have been having.

Dungeon Fighter Live gives you the option to choose between three characters, fighting on an epic quest against an evil sickness and giving you a bit of backstory to work off of.  From there, you’ll loot like a bandit as you beat up goblins and other enemies, eventually powering up and becoming more agile in combat.  Unfortunately, the level-up system is somewhat restrained, and five characters are missing from the PC game.  Our guess?  They’ll be added down the road, possibly as DLC.  It’s a bit unfair to hold off some of the quality content, especially against those who are expecting something akin to what they played through in the other Dungeon Fighter.

Another problem is that Dungeon Fighter Live doesn’t really give you too much of a challenge the first few hours in.  Most of the enemies, save for a huge boss that’s supposed to beat you for the sake of the story, are pushovers, as you can clean them up with a combo attack and loot them afterwards.  The later ones do pose a better threat, but whether you’re willing to root through hours of bland combat and repetitive fetch quests to get to that point may be asking a lot.

Thankfully, Dungeon Fighter Live does get some stuff right.  The skill and equipment sets really help you excel at certain things, even with level caps, and the trio of characters do offer something different from one another, if you feel like trying something different.   On top of that, the co-op isn’t actually half bad, as you can play with three others, and the game doesn’t suffer any sort of noticeable lag.  The only downside is that players drop out too often, especially during trading.  Jerks.

For a PC-to-Xbox Live port, Dungeon Fighter Live doesn’t look half bad.  The animation style is quite genuine, with greatly drawn 2-D sprites and backgrounds that resemble Treasure’s Guardian Heroes, but without the 3D scaling.  The camera could use work (sometimes you just take cheap hits) but overall it’s pretty.  The music isn’t bad either, nor are the sound effects and voice samples.  About on par for a game like this.

One thing, though – and this is really hard to overlook.  Who decided that it would be a good idea to put the “pick up item” button on the same function as general attacking?  Honestly.  Nothing is more unnerving than breaking up a combo because you had to pause and pick up some gold.  A better choice could’ve been made here.  Way better.

In the end, Dungeon Fighter Live is an interesting experiment, and one that’s bound to get enough of a loyal user base to strive.  However, the limitation of content and wrong gameplay choices make it a bitter pill to swallow, even with the general combat set-up.  You might want to stick to Guardian Heroes HD instead.

Via: Dungeon Fighter Live: Fall of Hendon Myre review

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD review

It's a genius idea really. Not only will you rekindle old Tony Hawk fans with some of the best levels they remember back from their childhood, but THPSHD can show newcomers how the video game skating scene really got started.

The gameplay remains largely the same from the originals. Each level presents you with a set of goals or objectives. In order to unlock access to the next level, you have to clear a certain amount of these goals, which consist of getting the High, Pro or Sick score, finding the Secret DVD (cause Secret VHS is so 90's), collecting the letters S-K-A-T-E or performing various tricks over gaps specific to that level.

While it's nice to go back and see how the franchise got started, I for one am glad the later games ended up moving away from objective based levels. However, they're still incredibly fun, and once you unlock them all, you can just Free Skate them to your heart's content.

The new stuff you'll see in the HD remake are a few new modes along with some new skaters thrown into the mix. You can even play as your Avatar, which is just as ridiculous as it sounds. The newest mode called Projectives (Pro Objectives) will truly put your sanity to the test as they present some of the toughest challenges for each level.

The levels are all pretty rad, from the classic 'Warehouse' from the first game, to the equally awesome 'Hangar' from the second game, 'School II' and 'Marseilles' are all back. The Mall makes a comeback as well, even though I find that level to be quite frustrating. And for some reason, Tony Hawk himself insisted that the 'Downhill Jam' level be added. Not sure what was going through his head there, but it's definitely not the highlight of the experience.

There are a few glaring issues however. While the best tracks from the first and second game are here, such as Goldfinger's "Superman", which seems to be everyone's favorite, even though my favorite is still "No Cigar" by Millencolin, you can't freely skip tracks, or even view the entire in-game tracklist. Why not?! If anything, half of my Tony Hawk nostalgia stems from the soundtrack, and I wish I had the control over which songs I wanted to listen to.

Also one of the biggest additions which was first introduced in THPS2, the level editor and character creator are sadly missing from the HD remake. 

The worst omission from the game, which could have easily gave it an extra point is split screen multiplayer. I can't even tell you the amount of time I spent playing this game with my buddies back in the day. Whether we just skated around each level in Free Skate or played each other in HORSE, some of my best Tony Hawk memories were when playing side by side with a friend. Sadly, multiplayer is now only relegated to online play. It's a great inclusion for sure, but come on, add some split screen to the game dammit!

Tony Hawk was skating at its finest before Skate opted to go head to head with the Tony Hawk franchise and make them more realistic. I still prefer this series because I don't care for too much realism in skating, and I don't care much for broken bones. The fact of the matter is, if you remember playing the old Tony Hawk games for hours, this purchase is a no brainer, especially for the $15 price tag. Though there are a few notable omissions, it's still a hell of a deal. Not to mention you can look forward to additional DLC in just a few weeks which will include levels from THPS3

Via: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD review

Max Payne 3 Local Justice DLC review

While the aforementioned extras are all nice additions to the multiplayer experience in Max Payne 3, it's the new maps that really make the DLC. Local Justice includes three maps: Imperial Palace, 55th Battalion HQ, and Departure Lounge. These three areas are taken straight from the last few chapters in the game, and they're absolutely incredible. Imperial Palace is a massive rundown hotel. The map consists of crumbling walls and piles of debris. There's plenty of cover to be found and high areas for picking off enemies from a distance.

Easily the most complex map of the three, 55th Battalion HQ is a huge collection of maze-like rooms, twists and turns, open spaces, and walls perfect for getting cover and ambushing your enemies. Combat in this map can drastically vary depending on what area you're in. For example, being in the jail often results in players engaging in melee attacks and close quarters combat. But when you get to the more open areas, there's no option other than letting loose with your best guns. It should be noted that 55th Battalion HQ is the only Local Justice map that supports Gang Wars mode, and it's damn near perfect for the objective-based component.

Last is the sprawling Departure Lounge. This map offers a bit of what the two previous areas feature. There are a lot of tight spaces, high areas, small rooms, and a massive central zone. Departure Lounge is a huge, multi-level map that's just plain fun. There's plenty of cover for high-pressure shootouts and ambush spots for sneakier players.

It's difficult for me to choose a favorite among the three new maps. The fact of the matter is that each new area offers something special and rewarding for fans of Max Payne 3 multiplayer. Imperial Palace, 55th Battalion HQ, and Departure Lounge have some noticeable similarities in terms of their features, but they're vastly different as far as structure and design are concerned.

As much fun as the three new maps may be, it should be noted that there are some hindrances. It's not that the levels themselves are limited, but getting to them can be. During the pre-match voting sequence, almost everyone is still always voting for Branco HQ. It makes sense that people love that map because it's so well designed, but come on, people! Give the new maps a chance, too! I mean, you paid money for them, damn it! Despite that minor gripe, if you really want to engage in some multiplayer fun on the new maps, there's a DLC option that lets you play randomized modes on the downloaded stages, so they're not entirely out of reach.

Local Justice sports a $7.99 price tag. For three maps, an item, and a gun, that can be a bit pricey, so I would highly recommend you shell out the $29.99 for the Rockstar Pass if you intend on sticking with the multiplayer in Max Payne 3 for a long time. At least that way you'll be sure to snag the follow-up content automatically once it launches.

Ultimately, the Local Justice Pack is for people who want more Max Payne 3 multiplayer. For those people, it's definitely one hell of a content boost. While the extra items and faction are good extras, the three new maps are the shining additions and are definitely worth paying money for. Max Payne 3's online multiplayer component just got even more addictive.

[Reviewed on PlayStation 3]

For a bunch of nonsensical gibberish, follow @thesanchezdavid on Twitter.

Via: Max Payne 3 Local Justice DLC review

Wreckateer review

In the game, you’re the latest member of the Wreck & Tinker Destruction Company, a medieval team whose primary task is to bring down goblin-filled castles and other structures.  To do this, you’ll use a various amount of ammunition, from basic shots that you can touch up with hand gestures to flying bombs that you can guide by sticking out your arms to your sides and pretending you’re an airplane.  As the game goes on, you’ll be introduced to various types of ammo, each of which change up the way you play.

In addition, firing the ballista that launches the shots takes practice in itself.  You can easily grasp your ammo, step back to pull back your shot (using judgment with power), then letting your arms open up to fire it off.  You can also add style points to this depending how you release, but you’ll want to start off the basic way first, just to get the hang of it.

As you might guess, Wreckateer is based on scoring principles.  The more you destroy – and the style that you put behind these shots – earns you big points, unlocking medals and multiplier bonuses that can really push you ahead.  The game is online supported, so you can compare your best scores with others rather easily, even tracking their progress stage-by-stage.  Wreckateer also gives bonus objectives, including special shields and off-the-map targets that could net you a hefty bonus.

The gameplay is basic, to be honest, but it makes terrific use of the Kinect, and not once did we run into an instance where it felt scattershot to us.  You’ll learn what it takes to fire the ballista and guide your shots – no matter what type of ammo you’re using – with ease.  And the game’s difficulty scales fairly, with more targets and trickier structures to bring down.  Remember, aiming low does excessive damage compared to taking a little bit off the top.

As a bonus, you can also unlock goods for your virtual Avatar, and earn Fame that can be used in other games, such as A World of Keflings and Full House Poker, through the new Avatar FameStar program.  Some folks might just prefer going into the game for the destruction angle, but for those who admire what they can put into their Avatar’s progress, this is actually rather cool.  Other games will be supporting this in the future as well, including the upcoming Avatar Motocross.  So if that’s your thing, indulge.

Wreckateer’s visual set-up is actually quite engaging, between lively characters (good and bad) that appear on each level, and the intricate set-up of each structure, from the enormous towers to the small little houses that require destruction.  The audio’s not bad either, with some spirited jawing coming from your cohorts (sometimes they just don’t shut up) and pleasant little background music.  It’s not full-on quality like, say, The Gunstringer, but for a downloadable game, it’s sufficient.

If destroying stuff is your forte and you want to get the most out of your Kinect, Wreckateer is a must-buy.  With consistent challenges, plenty of fun chaos to be had, and a pleasant presentation, it’s the most fun you’ll have bringing down tall structures – you know, outside of that “other” projectile-launching series.

Via: Wreckateer review

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD pushes 120K in first week on XBLA

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD, which arrived on XBLA last week and is coming to PC and PS3 later this year, has already sold 120,000 copies.

With Pro Skater HD, developer Robomodo relaunched the arcade skateboarding franchise with its first downloadable title.

Josh Tsui of the studio told Gamasutra that day-over-day sales are "staying very consistent" because of word of mouth.

"People are more apt to try games that are smaller and downloadable," he said.

The game landed on Xbox 360 as part of the XBLA Summer of Arcade. It will arrive for PSN in August and PC later this year.

"It should be interesting to see the sales on PC — we've been surprised how many people are asking for that," said Tsui.

Follow @wita on Twitter for tales of superheroes, plumbers in overalls, and literary adventures.

Via: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD pushes 120K in first week on XBLA

Resident Evil: Chronicles HD Collection review

Joining them are Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles and Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, bundled together as Resident Evil: Chronicles HD Collection.  As of this point, the games are only sold as a bundle for around $27, though later this month, you’ll be able to snag them for around $17 apiece.

Rather than taking the usual third-person Resident Evil route, both of the Chronicles games are on-rails shooters, similar to House of the Dead, where you shoot Umbrella’s worst freaks – and even a few unnatural creations outside of their reach – while you get to the bottom of your investigation.  The game reintroduces several favorites from the series’ past, including Jill Valentine, Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield, in separate storylines that somehow tie together with more popular games in the canon.

Being Resident Evil, you can expect plenty of corny dialogue in both games.  Claire, in particular, sounds like a whiny mess rather than a gun-toting heroine, and at numerous points during Umbrella Chronicles, the scripting gets so bad than you have to really question how much you can trust your partner.

But at least the graphics have gone through an overall.  Umbrella and Darkside have never looked better, with higher resolution, better visual effects and nastier looking creatures that far outshine the Wii versions.  There are times slight glitches pop up, and some enemies are a little too fast for your on-screen cursor reaction (resulting in health loss), but overall, Capcom has treated these games with just the right amount of polish.  It’s just too bad that not all the headshots leave a bloody explosive effect, as zombies occasionally collapse uneventfully after being hit.  At least the scoreboard counts it as a hit.

As for gameplay, the games have translated pretty well to the PlayStation Move.  On-screen cursor movement is breezy and quite accurate, and you can recalibrate with ease should something feel “off”.  Some of the motions you need to perform during boss battles can be tricky, however.  For instance, with the first stage in Umbrella, involving a giant mutant crab, the button prompts didn’t always read too properly, resulting in damage taken.  Over the course of the battle, we eventually got used to the system, but Capcom should’ve made it slightly more forgiving, or at least given us the option to shoot a certain spot to avoid the attack.

Darkside certainly fares better than Umbrella when it comes to accuracy in shooting, though both games have a fairly convenient system when weapon selection is involved.  And you’ll find ample supply of ammunition throughout each game, so you’ll always have the opportunity to do damage with grenades, sub-machine guns and shotguns.  It’s also nice to see Capcom provide multiple control types, including two Move controllers, a Navigation controller or, for those compelled to try it, Dual Shock support.

Though Resident Evil: Chronicles HD doesn’t have the greatest replay value in the world (aside from higher difficulty settings, hidden Umbrella trophies and online leaderboards), it’s a fairly substantial value for under $30, compared to the $50 retail versions over on the Wii.  And you get a better value here with the improved visuals and gameplay options.  If you’ve already plowed through Sega’s House of the Dead games and need something to fill your PlayStation Move fix, these stories should fit the bill.

Even if Claire won’t shut the hell up.

Via: Resident Evil: Chronicles HD Collection review

Dead Island: Game of the Year Edition review

Dead Island takes place on the island of Banoi, which is suddenly struck with a zombie outbreak. You play as one of four characters who are stranded on the tropical deathtrap. Your character is immune to the virus, so because of that, the other survivors on the island think it's best to just send you out to do their dirty work, run their errands, and scavenge for supplies. Hey, makes sense, right? I know I'd be sending out the guy who won't turn into a zombie if he gets bitten. Unfortunately, the story is largely uninteresting, and the characters aren't very likable. There are a few interesting moments, but overall, you shouldn't go into Dead Island expecting some gripping tale.

The bulk of what you'll be doing on the island of Banoi is looting and, obviously, killing hordes of zombies. Combat is satisfying and brutal, and I can't stress enough how good it felt using a nail hammer to bash a zombie's face in. Weapons are an integral part of survival in Dead Island, and throughout the course of your quest for survival you come across everything from flimsy wooden paddles to powerful machetes. Along your journey you come across different weapon mods, and by combining seemingly useless items you've looted (duct tape, wire) with some of the sturdier weapons you come across, you can create something as impressive as a nail bat or an electric crowbar.

As much as I enjoyed the idea of the crafting system in Dead Island, there were a few times where I would create a powerful weapon only to come across an unaltered mace or machete that was much stronger and more durable than what I had concocted. Speaking of durability, that's one of the elements that shines in Dead Island. You can't just create a weapon of mass destruction and breeze through the game. The more you use a weapon, the more of its durability you expend. You can fix up your items at workbenches, but you need to be mindful of their condition as you go on quests, which is absolutely brilliant because it keeps combat interesting.

The most fun I had in Dead Island was during the first few hours. Collecting weaker weapons and having to dish out punishment to take out zombies was a lot more satisfying than simply severing their heads off with the modified ripper weapon, which features spinning blades and looks really cool. Personally, I like the fight, and having to work for survival was more intense. Aside from that, encountering human antagonists was also remarkable, as these bouts featured some heavy gunplay that required patience and a steady trigger finger. Additionally, the RPG elements that allow you to level up and enhance different skill trees add a nice touch to the experience. And for gamers who want to play alongside others, Dead Island's co-op is still intact here.

The Game of the Year Edition features all of the cool gameplay that was released last year in the main game, warts and all, but it also fixes the glaring bugs and features some neat DLC extras. The aforementioned ripper mod, for example, was originally released as an add-on, and now it comes bundled with this edition of Dead Island. There's also the Bloodbath Arena, which is a new area that allows you to take on hordes of zombies and hack your way up a few levels. It's not the most amazing distraction, but it can be fun when played with others.

The most notable inclusion in the Game of the Year Edition is the Ryder White Campaign. This DLC will take you roughly three hours to get through and offers a different perspective on the tale of Dead Island. That said, because the story in the base game was never that enthralling to begin with, it's hard to care about the plot here. Still, the Ryder White Campaign does feature a lot of awesome shootouts. There were also a few cheap moments where gangs of running zombies ambushed me, and as you can probably guess, those sequences weren't very fun ... unless I had an assault rifle to mow 'em all down.

Dead Island: Game of the Year Edition is a nice package for gamers who want to destroy legions of undead monsters. Is it worthy of the title Game of the Year? That's debatable. But at $30, it's tough to pass this game up. You get a 20-hour main campaign rife with side quests and fun albeit flawed gameplay, a powerful weapon mod, an arena where you can level up and kill even more zombies, and a brief add-on campaign. At the end of the day, Dead Island is a really fun time, and you should definitely check it out if you've got that zombie huntin' itch.

[Reviewed on PlayStation 3]

For a bunch of nonsensical gibberish, follow @thesanchezdavid on Twitter.

Via: Dead Island: Game of the Year Edition review